When creating realistic materials for your 3D renders, it is important to set correct values for your IOR (Index of Refraction).
You can achieve a more physically accurate representation of a material’s surface by inputting the IOR value manually.
Most 3D rendering application will allow you to use these values when creating materials. Whether you are 3D modelling, texturing and rendering in Autodesk 3Ds Max, Autodesk Maya, Blender 3D, Maxon Cinema 4D, Chaos Corona, Chaos Vray, Arnold, Redshift or Octane, you can create photorealistic materials that behave naturally under any lighting conditions.
What is IOR?
The Index of Refraction (IOR) defines the level of refraction for the transmitted light travelling through a material. An IOR of 1.0 such as in the case of Air, causes no distortion or dispersion of objects behind the material. Light travels through the medium without significant interference. An IOR of 1.33 such as in the case of Water, causes significant distortion. The higher the IOR the more refraction happens to the transmitted light.
What is the Abbe number?
The Abbe number is the value of a material’s dispersion. It indicates the variation of refractive index versus its wavelength.
Low Abbe numbers produce significant wavelength dispersions, creating prismatic effects.
While high Abbe numbers produce low dispersions allowing the light-waves to transmit with less interference.
Description
Natrolite is a mineral belonging to the zeolite group, which is a group of hydrated aluminosilicate minerals. It is typically found in volcanic environments and forms as a secondary mineral in cavities and vesicles in igneous rocks. Natrolite is known for its white to colorless appearance and often occurs as acicular or fibrous crystals.
Description
Natural Rubber is a polymer made from the latex of certain plants, primarily the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis).
Description
Nephrite is a type of jade and is one of the two minerals commonly referred to as "jade," the other being jadeite. It is a metamorphic rock composed mainly of fibrous amphibole minerals, primarily tremolite-actinolite, as well as other minerals such as serpentine and chlorite.It is typically found in shades of green, although other colors such as white, yellow, and brown can also occur.
Description
Nickel is a metallic element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is silvery-white in color and has a shiny appearance. Nickel is known for its high ductility, malleability, and resistance to corrosion, making it valuable for a wide range of industrial applications.
Description
Nitrogen is a diatomic gas with the chemical symbol N₂ and molecular formula N₂. It is the most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere, constituting about 78% of the air we breathe. Nitrogen is colorless, odorless, and generally inert under standard conditions.
Material
Nitrogen (liquid)
Description
Liquid Nitrogen is the liquid form of nitrogen gas (N₂) at extremely low temperatures. It is colorless, odorless, and has a boiling point of -195.79 °C (-320.4 °F) at standard atmospheric pressure.
Description
Nylon is a synthetic polymer that belongs to the class of polyamides. It is known for its toughness, durability, and resistance to abrasion, making it a popular material for a wide range of applications, including textiles, engineering plastics, and consumer goods.
Description
Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed when lava cools rapidly with minimal crystal growth. It is usually black in color, although it can also appear in various shades of brown, gray, or green, depending on impurities and mineral inclusions. Obsidian has a smooth, glassy texture and is known for its sharp edges.
Material
Oil of Wintergreen
Description
Oil of Wintergreen, also known as methyl salicylate, is an organic compound commonly found in the essential oil of wintergreen plants (Gaultheria procumbens).
Description
Olivine is a common mineral found in igneous and metamorphic rocks, as well as in meteorites. It is a silicate mineral with the chemical formula (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄ and belongs to the orthorhombic crystal system. Olivine comes in various colors, including green, yellow-green, and brown, depending on its composition.
Description
Onyx is a variety of chalcedony, which is a type of microcrystalline quartz. It is known for its banded patterns of alternating colors, typically black and white, although it can also occur in other colors such as brown, red, or green.
Description
Opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silica, classified as a mineraloid rather than a mineral due to its lack of crystalline structure. It has a play-of-color, which arises from the diffraction of light by the regular arrangement of silica spheres within the opal matrix. Opal comes in various colors and types, including white, black, boulder, and fire opal, each with its unique characteristics and patterns.
Description
Oregon Sunstone is a variety of labradorite feldspar known for its distinctive aventurescence, which is caused by microscopic copper platelets within the stone. It has a range of colors, including yellow, orange, red, and green, with the most prized stones displaying a vibrant red or green play-of-color.
Description
Oxygen is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is essential for life as it is a critical component of the Earth's atmosphere and necessary for respiration in most living organisms.
Description
Liquid oxygen is the liquid state of elemental oxygen (O2) at extremely low temperatures. Liquid oxygen is colorless and odorless, with a pale blue tint that becomes more pronounced as its temperature decreases.
Material
PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
Description
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a thermoplastic polymer resin commonly used in the production of fibers for clothing, containers for liquids and food, and various other applications.
Material
PETg (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)
Description
PETg, also known as glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate, is a thermoplastic polymer that is commonly used in the production of rigid and flexible packaging, containers, and other applications where clarity, toughness, and chemical resistance are important.
Description
Padparadja, also spelled Padparadscha, is a rare variety of corundum, which is the same mineral that forms rubies and sapphires. It is known for its distinctive pink-orange to orangy-pink color, often described as a blend of pink and orange hues reminiscent of a sunset.
Description
Painite is a rare borate mineral that was first discovered in Myanmar in the 1950s. It is known for its reddish-brown to brownish-black coloration and exceptional rarity, making it one of the world's rarest gemstones.
Description
Pearls are organic gemstones formed within the soft tissue of shelled mollusks such as oysters and mussels. They are composed primarily of calcium carbonate (in the form of aragonite or calcite) deposited in concentric layers around an irritant particle within the mollusk's mantle. Pearls come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, with the most highly valued specimens exhibiting a lustrous, iridescent surface known as orient and a round or near-round shape.
Description
Periclase is a mineral with the chemical formula MgO, consisting of magnesium oxide. It occurs naturally in metamorphic rocks and as a component of some igneous rocks. Periclase is typically colorless or white and has a high refractive index, making it appear translucent to opaque.
Description
Peristerite is a type of albite feldspar, a mineral group that includes many varieties of feldspar with a similar chemical composition but differing in their optical and physical properties. Peristerite is known for its characteristic iridescence, caused by light interference between layers of exsolved lamellae of albite and other feldspars. This iridescence often displays a bluish or milky sheen.
Description
Petalite is a lithium aluminum silicate mineral that is commonly found in granitic pegmatites. It is known for its glassy luster and typically occurs as colorless, white, or pale pink crystals.
Description
Phenakite is a rare beryllium silicate mineral that is often found in association with quartz, feldspar, and other pegmatite minerals. Phenakite crystals can vary in color from colorless to pale yellow, pink, or green, with the most valuable specimens exhibiting clarity and brilliance.
Description
Phosgenite is a rare lead chloro-carbonate mineral that is often found in the oxidation zones of lead ore deposits. Phosgenite crystals typically exhibit a tetragonal crystal system and can vary in color from colorless to white, yellow, or gray, depending on impurities present in the crystal structure.
Description
"Plastic" is a general term that refers to a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic compounds that are malleable and can be molded into various shapes when soft and then set into a rigid or semi-rigid form.
Description
Platinum is a dense, malleable, and ductile metal that is prized for its resistance to corrosion and oxidation, as well as its rarity and lustrous appearance.
Description
Polycarbonate is a transparent thermoplastic known for its high impact resistance, optical clarity, and lightweight nature.
Description
Polystyrene is a synthetic polymer known for its lightweight, rigid, and transparent properties.
Description
Prase is a variety of quartz that contains small amounts of green-colored minerals, such as chlorite or actinolite, giving it a distinctive green hue.
Description
Prasiolite, also known as green quartz or vermarine, is a variety of quartz that obtains its green color from natural irradiation.
Description
Prehnite is a mineral that is typically light green to yellow-green in color. It is often found in association with volcanic rocks and can exhibit a vitreous to pearly luster.
Description
Proustite, also known as light red silver, is a mineral consisting of silver sulfarsenide, Ag3AsS3. It is a richly colored mineral with a bright red hue and is often found in association with other silver minerals.
Description
Purpurite is a mineral composed of manganese phosphate, with a purplish color ranging from pale lavender to deep violet.
Description
Pyrite, also known as iron pyrite or fool's gold, is a common sulfide mineral with a brassy yellow color and metallic luster.
Description
Pyrope is a variety of garnet, a group of silicate minerals, and is known for its deep red color.
Description
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth and comes in many varieties, including clear quartz, amethyst, citrine, and rose quartz. It has a vitreous luster and is often transparent to translucent.
Description
Rhodizite is a rare mineral that belongs to the borate group. It is usually colorless or white and forms in small crystals.
Description
Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral that is typically pink, reddish, or rose-colored.
Description
Rhodonite is a pink to rose-red mineral that belongs to the pyroxenoid group of minerals. Rhodonite is characterized by its distinctive pink color, often with black or brown veining.
Description
Rock Salt, also known as halite, is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl). Rock Salt is typically colorless or white but may also appear in various shades of pink, red, or blue due to impurities.
Description
Ruby is a red variety of the mineral corundum (aluminum oxide) and is one of the most valuable gemstones in the world. Its red color is caused by traces of chromium within the crystal structure.
Description
Sanidine is a type of potassium-rich feldspar mineral that belongs to the tectosilicate group. Sanidine typically exhibits a vitreous to pearly luster and may appear colorless, white, gray, or pale yellow.
Description
Scapolite is a group of aluminosilicate minerals that commonly occur in metamorphic and igneous rocks. It typically exhibits a vitreous to pearly luster and can appear colorless, white, gray, yellow, pink, or violet.
Description
Scheelite is a calcium tungstate mineral that is commonly found in hydrothermal veins and is often associated with ores of tungsten. It typically exhibits a vitreous to adamantine luster and can appear colorless, white, gray, yellow, orange, or brown.
Description
Serpentine is a group of minerals that are typically green in color and commonly found in metamorphic rocks such as serpentinites. Serpentine often exhibits a waxy to greasy luster and can occur in fibrous, platy, or massive forms.
Description
Shampoo is a liquid detergent used for cleaning and conditioning hair. It typically consists of water, surfactants, conditioning agents, preservatives, and fragrances.
Description
Shell material is derived from the exoskeletons of marine mollusks such as snails, clams, and oysters. It is primarily composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the form of calcite or aragonite crystals, along with organic molecules such as proteins and polysaccharides. Shell material exhibits a pearly or iridescent luster due to its layered microstructure, which causes light interference and diffraction.
Description
Shower gel is a liquid cleansing product used for personal hygiene, particularly during bathing or showering. It typically consists of water, surfactants, moisturizers, fragrances, and sometimes coloring agents.
Description
Silicon is a chemical element with the symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-gray metallic luster, a tetravalent metalloid, and a semiconductor.
Description
Sillimanite is a fibrous mineral with the chemical formula Al2SiO5. It is an aluminum silicate mineral that often occurs in metamorphic rocks such as schists and gneisses. It may appear translucent to opaque and can exhibit pleochroism, displaying different colors when viewed from different angles.
Description
Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag and atomic number 47. It is a soft, white, lustrous transition metal, notable for its high electrical conductivity, malleability, and ductility.
Description
Sinhalite is a rare mineral with the chemical formula MgAlBO4. It belongs to the orthorhombic crystal system and is typically found in metamorphic rocks such as granulite and skarn. Sinhalite is valued as a gemstone due to its attractive yellow to brown color and high refractive index.
Description
Smaragdite is a rare silicate mineral that is sometimes considered a variety of amphibole, belonging to the hornblende group. Smaragdite can exhibit a green coloration due to the presence of iron or chromium, but its appearance can vary depending on its composition and environmental factors.
Description
Smithsonite, also known as zinc spar, is a mineral composed of zinc carbonate (ZnCO3). Smithsonite can occur in a variety of colors, including white, gray, brown, green, blue, and pink, depending on its impurities.
Description
Sodalite is a rich royal blue mineral widely enjoyed as an ornamental gemstone. Although massive sodalite samples are opaque, crystals are usually transparent to translucent.
Description
Sodium chloride, commonly known as table salt or rock salt, is a crystalline mineral substance composed primarily of sodium and chloride ions. It forms cubic crystals and is often colorless or white, although impurities can give it a variety of colors, including pink (as seen in Himalayan salt) and gray (as seen in sea salt).
Description
Spessartite is a variety of garnet, a group of silicate minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. Spessartite garnets range in color from orange to reddish-brown and are valued for their brilliance and fire.
Description
Sphalerite is a zinc sulfide mineral with a chemical composition of (Zn,Fe)S. Sphalerite can occur in a range of colors, including yellow, brown, black, and red, depending on its iron content and impurities.
Description
Sphene, also known as titanite, is a calcium titanium nesosilicate mineral with the chemical formula CaTiSiO₅. It typically occurs as transparent to translucent crystals with a diamond-shaped cross-section. Sphene can exhibit a range of colors, including yellow, green, brown, and reddish-brown, depending on its chemical composition and impurities.
Description
Spinel is a gemstone mineral composed of magnesium aluminum oxide (MgAl₂O₄). It is valued for its hardness, brilliance, and wide range of colors, including red, pink, blue, purple, orange, yellow, green, brown, and black.
Description
Spodumene is a lithium aluminum inosilicate mineral with the chemical formula LiAlSi2O6. It occurs as prismatic crystals with distinct cleavage and a vitreous to greasy luster. Spodumene crystals can exhibit various colors, including colorless, white, pink, lilac, yellow, green, and brown, depending on trace impurities.
Description
Star Ruby is a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminum oxide) that exhibits a unique optical phenomenon known as asterism. Star Ruby is typically translucent to opaque and ranges in color from pinkish-red to purplish-red, with the finest specimens displaying a vivid, saturated hue.
Description
Star Sapphire is a variety of corundum (aluminum oxide) that exhibits a unique optical phenomenon known as asterism. Star Sapphire is typically blue in color, although it can also occur in other colors such as pink, purple, or gray.
Description
Staurolite is a mineral commonly found in metamorphic rocks such as schist and gneiss. Staurolite crystals are typically brown to reddish-brown in color and have a vitreous to resinous luster.
Description
Steatite, also known as soapstone, is a metamorphic rock composed primarily of talc with varying amounts of other minerals such as chlorite, pyroxene, amphibole, and carbonates. It has a greasy or soapy feel and is often gray, bluish, greenish, or brownish in color.
Description
Steel is a versatile and widely used alloy of iron and carbon, with other elements such as manganese, chromium, nickel, and molybdenum often added to enhance its properties.
Description
Stichtite is a rare carbonate mineral that is usually pink, lilac, or purple in color.
Material
Strontium Titanate
Description
Strontium Titanate is a synthetic crystalline material composed of strontium and titanium oxides (SrTiO3). Strontium Titanate is often used as a diamond simulant due to its high dispersion and brilliance, resembling the fire of diamonds.
Description
Styrene is an organic compound primarily used in the production of polystyrene, a versatile plastic material. Styrene itself is a colorless, oily liquid with a sweet smell and is classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Description
Styrofoam is a trademarked brand of expanded polystyrene foam, commonly used for insulation, packaging, and disposable food containers
Description
Sulphur, also known as sulfur, is a chemical element with the symbol S and atomic number 16. It is a bright yellow, brittle solid that is odorless and tasteless in its native form.
Description
Taaffeite is a rare gemstone known for its remarkable optical properties and vivid colors. It occurs in various colors, including violet, mauve, pink, and red, depending on its chemical composition and impurities.
Description
Tantalite is a rare mineral composed of tantalum and niobium oxides. It is commonly found in pegmatite formations and is often associated with other minerals such as columbite and cassiterite. Tantalite has a metallic luster and is dark black to brownish-black in color.
Description
It is a blue to violet-blue variety of the mineral zoisite, and its color can vary depending on the presence of trace elements such as vanadium. Tanzanite is known for its pleochroism, meaning it can exhibit different colors when viewed from different angles.
Material
Teflon (Polytetrafluoroethylene)
Description
Teflon, also known by its chemical name polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), is a synthetic fluoropolymer used in a wide range of applications due to its non-stick and high-temperature resistance properties.
Description
Thomsonite is a rare mineral belonging to the zeolite group. Thomsonite is translucent to transparent and has a vitreous to pearly luster. It has distinctive colors and patterns, which can include shades of white, pink, green, or red.
Description
Tiger Eye is a type of chatoyant gemstone that is a variety of quartz with fibrous bands of crocidolite. These fibrous bands give Tiger Eye its characteristic chatoyancy, also known as the "cat's eye effect," where a narrow band of reflected light moves across the surface of the stone when it is rotated. Tiger Eye is typically golden to brown in color, with variations in shade and intensity depending on the specific mineral composition and the presence of other minerals such as iron oxide.
Description
Tin Iodide is a chemical compound composed of tin and iodine. It is often found in the form of a yellow solid, although its exact appearance can vary depending on its purity and crystalline structure.
Description
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It is a lustrous transition metal with a silver color, low density, and high strength. Titanium is resistant to corrosion in sea water, aqua regia, and chlorine.
Description
Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminum and fluorine. It occurs in a variety of colors, including blue, yellow, brown, green, pink, and sometimes colorless.
Description
Tourmaline is a crystalline boron silicate mineral compounded with elements such as aluminum, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. It occurs in a variety of colors, including black, brown, green, red, pink, and blue.
Description
Tremolite is a member of the amphibole group of silicate minerals. It is a calcium magnesium silicate with the chemical formula Ca2(Mg5.0-4.5Fe2+0.0-0.5)Si8O22(OH)2. Tremolite forms prismatic crystals with distinct cleavage and a fibrous structure. It is usually white, gray, or green in color and is often found in metamorphic rocks such as marble and schist.
Description
It is known for its vivid pink to red color, often exhibiting fluorescence under ultraviolet light.
Description
Turpentine is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin obtained from trees, particularly pine trees. It is commonly used as a solvent and as a source of materials in various industries, including painting, cleaning, and pharmaceuticals.
Description
Turquoise is a blue to green mineral composed of hydrated copper and aluminum phosphate. Turquoise often exhibits a characteristic veined or mottled appearance due to the presence of other minerals within its structure.
Description
Ulexite, also known as TV rock or boronatrocalcite, is a naturally occurring mineral found in evaporite deposits. It is composed primarily of sodium, calcium, boron, and oxygen. Ulexite has a fibrous crystalline structure that allows it to transmit light along its fibers via internal reflection.
Material
User Paraffin Wax
Description
Paraffin wax is a type of hydrocarbon wax derived from petroleum, coal, or shale oil.
Description
Uvarovite is a rare green chromium-bearing garnet mineral. It is the rarest of the garnets and is valued for its rich green color, which is caused by the presence of chromium.
Description
Vacuum is a space devoid of matter, including air and other gases. In physics, a vacuum is defined as a region where the pressure is significantly lower than atmospheric pressure, resulting in a near-absence of particles.
Description
Variscite is a hydrated aluminum phosphate mineral that is often found as a secondary mineral in aluminum-rich deposits. It is typically green to bluish-green in color and has a waxy to earthy luster.
Material
Vegetable Oil (50 °C)
Description
Vegetable oil is a type of oil derived from plants, commonly used for cooking, frying, and as an ingredient in various food products. It is composed of triglycerides, which are esters of glycerol and fatty acids. Vegetable oils vary in color, flavor, and viscosity depending on the source plant and processing method.
Description
Vivianite is a hydrated iron phosphate mineral that is commonly found as bluish-green to colorless crystals or earthy masses. It forms in oxygen-poor environments such as swamps, marshes, or areas with decaying organic matter.
Description
Vodka is a clear alcoholic beverage composed primarily of water and ethanol, along with small amounts of other compounds such as flavorings or impurities.
Description
Wardite is a hydrated phosphate mineral that belongs to the group of rare secondary phosphate minerals. Wardite crystals are usually colorless to white, but they can also occur in shades of yellow, green, or blue.
Description
Water is a transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid that is essential for all known forms of life. At standard atmospheric pressure, water typically boils at 100°C (212°F) and freezes at 0°C (32°F). The refractive index of water changes with temperature and wavelength, with variations in density and the presence of impurities.
Description
Whisky, also known as whiskey, is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Whisky is aged in wooden barrels, which can impart additional flavors and colors to the spirit.
Description
White Rum is a type of rum that is clear and typically undergoes minimal aging. Its refractive index may vary slightly depending on factors such as alcohol content and impurities.
Description
Wulfenite is a lead molybdate mineral with the chemical formula PbMoO4. It forms bright orange to red crystals that are translucent to transparent. Wulfenite is often found in the oxidized zones of lead deposits, where it can occur in association with other lead minerals.
Description
Zincite is a rare mineral composed of zinc oxide (ZnO). It typically occurs in bright red or orange crystals and is often associated with zinc ore deposits. Zincite has a relatively high refractive index, which gives it a strong ability to bend light.
